Clutch



Oct. 24, 1939.

C. M. EASON CLUTCH Filed June 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1939.

c. M. EAsoN 2,177,362

CLUTCH Filed June 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented a. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 4Clarence M. Eason, Waukesha, Wis., assignor to Industrial Clutch Company, Wauk corporation of Wisconsin Application June 14l 12 claims.

'Ihe present invention relates generally to clutches for transmitting' power from a driving part to a driven part, and the principal object 4of the present invention is the provision of a clutch mechanism which accommodates angular misalignment between the driving and driven parts and prevents the clutch parts from being subjected to any relative movement when an gular misalignment is present.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a clutch structure which is especially constructed and arranged to permit rocking movement of one of the clutch members with .respect to the part to which it is connected, in connection with bearing means connecting the driving and driven parts so as to insure that any misalignment between the parts will take place about the same point or axis as the rocking movement of the flexibly connected' clutch part. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a driving lclutch disc having circumierentially directed spring lingers connected at their outer or free ends to a ywheel or other driving element so that the clutch disc is yieldingly mounted to rock generally about a point that coincides with the point of intersection of the plane of the clutch disc and the axis of rotation of the driving part, and it is a furtherL object of the present invention to provide a pilot bearing receiving the driven shaft and support' ing the same on the drivingrelement so thatv any angular misalignment between the driving andI driven elements also takes place about this same point. By virtue of this arrangement, when the clutch is engaged and any angular misalignment between the driving and driven parts exists, the driving and drivenl clutch elements do not tend to shift withv respect .to each other but move together as a,unit with the driven element rela- '40 tive to the driving element about, the aforesaid point of rocking, the spring ngers yielding to permit such relative movement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision cf a driving clutch disc having generally circumferentially.directed fingers or links i Y anchored at one endtothe clutch disc/and adapt- ,fditIo be connectedv at their free ends to the'driving element, the fingers. or links being formed so that there is some resilience or yielding in a circumierertial direction, thereby 'cushioning the transmission of torque from the driving element/- to the driving clutch disc, According to the present invention, the links may be formed as arcs in Awhich the transmission of force from the driv ing element to the clutch disc tends to straighten esha, Wis., a

1931, serial No. 148,058

the arcuate links, or the links, whether straight or arcuate, may be corrugated transversely to increase their resilience in a circumferential direction. Preferably, the curved fingers or links are integral with the portions of the clutch disc to which they are anchored. -The curvature of the link merges into the curved junction between the link and the disc. This is an important feature. in that'it serves to distribute the stresses which arise during operation, particularly when the driving andl driven parts are displaced angularlyso that the links are exed1aterally,i.e.,havea-,wab ble plate action, at the same time they are stressed in tension by the torque. This distributionfof the stresses over the curved edge overcomes the v tendency to tear or rupture the clutch disc at =-either the inner edge of the fingers or linksor at the junction of the lingers or links with the disc. It is to'be observed that there is a continuous curve from the outer end of the link or finger to thebody of the disc. Variations of this curvature lmay be made, depending upon the maximum wabble plate action to be encountered. A further object of the presentinvention in this connection is the provision of means for limiting the amount of relative movement between .the driving element and the driving clutch disc that may occur. under the aforesaid yielding of the connecting links or .ngers.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of-the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the' accompanying drawings. In the drawings; y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through a clutch mechanism and associated parts embodying the principles of the present invention: Figure 2 is a fragmentary section, illustrating the relative positions of some of the parts after the clutch'has become worn;

Figure 3 is an end view of the clutch structure shown in Figure 1, taken approximately along the line 33vof Figure 1 but omitting the clutch housing;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary edge view of the f driving clutch disc. shown in Figure 3; `and Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, illustrating a portion of a modified form of driving clutch plate, in which the resilient circumferentially directed i links, or lingers are corrugated to increase the circumferential resilience.

Referring fnow to the drawings, more particu- .larly Figures 1 to 4, the reference numeral la indicates a driving element in the form of a y- Wheel bolted, as at I2, to the flange I3 of a crank shaft I4.' the latter. representing any suitable source of power, such as an internal combustion engine. A driven part |1, which includes a driven shaft I8, is disposed in axial alignment with the crank shaft |4, and is adapted to be connected to and driven from the flywheel |I through suitable clutch mechanism, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20, which forms the principal subject matter of the present invention.

The clutch mechanismconsists of a clutch disc '25, best s hown in Figure 3, which includes a central disc-section proper, indicated by the reference numeral 26, and a plurality of circumferentially directed fingers or links 21, preferably but not necessarily formed integral with the clutch disc 26. 'I'he links 21 are generally arcuate in configuration, and are rigidly fastened to or formed as a part of the clutch disc 26. While the arms or links 21 are shown as arcuate on a encountered and upon the amount oflextensible elasticity desired. Also, the arms or link-S 21 maybe made additionally extensible as by corrugation of the links in whole or in part. Preferably. the connection with the clutch disc 26 is made at one end of each of the links 21. and at the point where the inner edge of the link merges into or joins the outer edge of the disc the metal is cut on a curve, indicated at 28, whereby the stresses due to the yielding .or flexing of-the link relative to the disc will not be concentrated at any one point but will be distributed along the curved edge to van extent sufficient to prevent tbe metal from tearing or fracturing. as Will be referred to later. The outer or free end of each of the links is apertured, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3, and receives an attaching bushing 3|li,

one end of .which carries a head 3| and the other end of which is riveted-over a collar 32, the head 3| and collar 32 being on opposite sides of the end of the finger 21. 'I'he bushing 30 is hollow and receives an attaching cap screw 34 that is adapted tn be screwed into av threaded opening 35 in the flywheelfll. The clutchdisc 26 carries the usual friction lining 31 which is secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by rivets 38.

- The driven section-of the clutch mechanism 20 is indicated nits entirety by the reference numeral 40 and includes apair of relatively movable clutch plates 4| and 42 disposed on opposite sides ofthe driving clutch disc 25. The outer driven clutch plate 42 includes a hub section 45 that is adapted to be mounted upon the tapered end 46 of the driven shaft I8. The driven clutch plate 42 is adapted to rotate withy the driven shaft I8 by means of a key 41 or the like, and the hub 45 is held in position on the forward end of the driven shaft I8 by means of a nut 50 and alocking set screw 'Ihe hub 4510i tle driven clutch plate 42 extends forwardly, as at 45a; and

forms a flange or hub section over which the ing l I2.

a number of openings 62 and a number of spring receiving sockets 63 in which the outer ends of springs 64 are seated. A spacer 61, having threaded holes in each end, is attachedto the collar 60 by socket head cap screws 68 that extend through the openings 62. The spacers 61 ets 15 formed in theputer face of the outer drivenv clutch plate 42. An insulating washer 16 is placed in the bottom of.- each of the spring receiving sockets 15 to protect the springsfrom thedetslips. The two driven clutch plates 4| and 42 and the flange 6| of the shift collar 60 have registering openings 11, 18 and' 19, to facilitate cooling the clutch and to provide for a flow of air through lthe ends of the springs.

As will, be clear from the above description,

the springs 64 react against the driven clutch plate 42 and exert a force axially outwardly against the shift collar 60, and the latter in turn exerts a pull through the spacers 61 and cap screws 68, 12 and moves the inner driven clutch plate 4I axially outwardly to clamp the driving clutch disc 25 securely and firmly therebetween.

The inner end of the driven part I1 is supported on the adjacent end of thedriving part I0 by a bearing unit of the self-aligning type, that is disposed in the plane of the clutch disc 26. A collar 85 has a number of radially outwardly extending lugs 86 that are apertured to receive bolts 81 by which the collar 85 is secured to the flywheel II. The collar 65 includes a generally cylindrical section 89 that is disposed in axial alignment with the crank shaft I4 and serves as a support for the inner race 93 of the self-aligning bearing unit 94; The inner race 93 carries two rows of anti-friction balls 95, and an outer race 96 is provided and has a generally spherical bearing surface, the center of which lies in exact alignment with the axis of the crank shaft I4, this point coinciding with the point where the plane of the clutch disc 26 intersects the #axis of the crank shaft I4. Preferably, the outer bearing. race .96 seats in a recess |00 formed in the flange section 45a of the driven clutch plate 42. A plate |0| closes the space between theinner and outer ball races 93 and 96, and a spring ring |03 seats in a groove in theflange 45a and serves to hold the bearing unit 94 in position in the hub of the driven clutch plate 42.

Thedriven shaft I8 is supported adjacent its outer endv by anti-friction bearing means ||0 which is carried in the nose III of a clutch hous- The portion III of the clutch housing Thev Irimental effect of heat generated when the clutch |.I2 is provided with varecess I I5 which receives l a collar or stationary cam member ||6, the latter being held rigidly inthe clutch housing ||2 by means of a set-Screw ||1 or any other suitable means'. A cam member |20 surrounds the driven shaft I8 inwardly of the stationary member ||6, and .both the latterand the member |20 are provided with camming surfaces |2| and' |22.

vA .thrust ring |24 is disposed between the inner face of the member |20 and the shift ring 60. A lug |25 is formed on the cam member |20 and receives a link |26 that is adapted to be shifted by any suitable clutch operating mechanism. When the member |20 is rocked about the axis of the driven shaft I8, the camming surfaces I2| and |22 cause the member |20 to exert an inwardly directed thrust against the shift ring 00, and the latter acts through the spacers 61 to force the inner driven clutch plate 4| inwardly and release the driving clutch disc 26. It will be noted that the member 42, against which the springs 64 bear, is rigidly fastened to the driven shaft |8, and that the latter is supported by the bearing means |I against vaxial displacement relative to the clutch housing I I2. It will also be noted that when the member |20 is rocked to disengage the clutch, it reacts against the stationary member I I6 which is fixed in the recess ||5 in the clutch housing II2. Therefore, all of the f forces and reactions involved in engaging and disengaging the clutch are self-contained in that none of the forces are imposed upon the selfaligning pilot bearing unit 94 or the associated flywheel.

vA sleeve |30 has bearing support in the member ||6 and out of contact with the driven shaft I8. The sleeve |30 is threaded into the cam member |20 and extends axially outwardly along the driven shaft I8 to a point adjacent the collar |3| which holds the bearing ||0 in position on the driven shaft I8. A flange |32 is formed on the outer end of the sleeve |30, and a spring |34 is positioned between the stationary cam member I6 and the flange |32, the force of the spring |34 being exerted to hold the cam member 20 up against the stationary cam member II6, whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged. This relieves the thrust ring |24 of undue wear.

In operation, the clutch may be engaged and disengaged by rocking the shifting cam member |20 in one direction orthe other, in the manner set forth above. the clutch parts in accurate concentricrelation 45 with respect to the axis of the crankshaft I4,

independentlyI of 'any misalignment that may existbetweeh thel crankshaft I4 and the driven shaft I8, as might occur if the bearing I0 or the clutch housing I I2 supporting it should be out of position, or from yany other cause. If the driven shaft I8 is angularly misaligned with respect tov the crank shaft I4, the bearing parts will be rocked about a central point, defined by the self-aligning bearing unit 94, and the flexible 65 sitelink. The curved edges of the links rand the curved junctions 28 effectivelyV prevent the linksy .or fingers 21 will be deflected laterally, due tothe tilt 'of one clutch part with respect to the other while both are rotating. Also, the links are stressed in tension longitudinally or generally circumferentially 'when the 4parts are angularly misaligned because at any one instant y,the distance between the point 34 where one link is .connected to the flywheel and the point where the link joins the clutch disc is 'slightly Adifferent from the corresponding distance for every one of the other linksfehxcept the diametrically oppostretching and deflecting actions from tearing the links apart or tearing them away from the plate,

since the stresses are distributed alongv the curves above referred to-. Further, vthere will be noVv support of the clutch parts about their point of' rocking that coincides with the axis of rotation The bearing unit 94 maintains of the crank shaft I4. The fingers or links 21 are extended circumferentially from their points of attachment to the clutch disc proper to their points of attachment to the flywheel II asufficient distance so as to secure sufficient flexibility under all conditions of operation. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the links or fingers 21 are generally arcuate members. By virtue of this arrangement, these fingers or members transmit the driving torque from the flywheel, which rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 3, to the driving clutch disc 25 with a certain amount of cushioning or yielding, due to the tendency of the transmitted force to straighten the normally arcuate members 21. This tendency to straighten the members 21 imposes tensile'stresses on the inner portions and compressive stresses on the outer portions. As will be obvious,

ment of the flexible sections 21 to the clutch disc proper, and in the openings |40 are disposed pins or studs I4I which are carried in any suitable manner by the flywheel II. As 'will be clear, the amount of yielding or straightening that is permitted to occur in the members 21A is limited by the engagement of Aone side or the other of the opening |40 with the pin 4| disposed therein. As shown in Figure 3, preferably the members 21 extendcircumferentially in the direction in which the flywheel |I transmits the driving force to the clutch disc, whereby the link members 21 act largely in tension. However, if there should exist any tendency for the load to drive the motor, the links 21 will act in compression,

limited, however, by the amount of relative movement permitted, in either direction, by the pins I 4I in the openings |40. As is obvious, the amount of permissive movement is determined by the relative sizes or diameters of the pins |4I and the openings I 40. l

lWhen the clutch disc 26 is manufactured the fingers or links 21 are deflected out of the general plane of the disc and are given a permanent set so that normally the ends of the spring fingers 21 tend to take a position even4 farther to the right of the plane of the clutch disc 26 than is shown in Figures 1 and.4. Therefore, when the clutch is assembled and cap screws 34 drawn up, the clutch disc 26 tends to move inwardly to the left (Figure l) away from the driven plate 42 so that when the shiftable plate 4| is moved inwardly to disengage the clutch, the clutch disc 26 first moves out of engagement with the driven plate 42, continued inward movement of the clutch plate 4| carrying the latter out of engagement with'the driving clutch disc 26, whereby there is no ltendency for the clutch to drag.

, When the linings,3 1 wear down, however, the

spring fingers 21 may .lire substantially in the plane of the disc when then clutch 'is engaged, and when the linings are worn down almost to the rivets 38 the ngers 21 may be deflected away from the plane of the disc 26 in the other direction, a's indicated in Figure 2, when the clutch is engaged. The purpose of this arrangement is to Vminimize the effect of having the clutch fingers slightly atan angle -to the driving disc when 15 ing more than a certain amount relative tol the 65 ...other direction.

the clutch is engaged, for it is only when the clutch linings are very new or when they are quite worn that the deflection of the fingers 21 is appreciable when the clutch is engaged. In any event, however, the resiliency of the fingers 21 tends to holdl the clutch disc proper away from the driven clutch plate 42 when the clutch is disengaged.

If it is desired to provide for greater circumferential resilience than is possible in the construction shown in Figure 3, the fingers 21 may be corrugated transversely, as indicated by the reference numeral |50 in Figure 5. This figure also vshows a modified form of motionlimiting means which prevents the flywheel from rotatdriving clutch disc. As shown in Figure 5, the link or nger y21a is provided with an inwardly directed projection- |52 which is received in a correspondingly formed slot or recess |53 cut in the peripheral edge of the clutch disc 26a. It will be remembered that the bushing 3|, which-is fastened to the free end ofthe spring link, is fastened to the flywheel I I. Therefore, when the iiywheel I| rotates with respect to the clutch disc 26a a certain amount, the walls of'the projection |52 will engage the Walls of the notch |53 in the clutch disc, thereby preventing any further relative movement between the flywheel and the clutch disc in a circumferential direction. It is not necessary that every spring link 21a have the above described projection |52 seating in a recess |53 in the clutch disc, and similarly it is not necessary that there be as many pins |4| and recesses |40 in Figure 3 as there are spring links 21. Any suitable member may be provided. n

In both forms of clutch discs described above, the flexible or resilient links or fingers have been shown as formed integrally with the clutch disc proper. Such integrality is not, however, necessary. The vlaterally exible links may be made as separate parts if desired.

While I have shown and described above the preferred means in which the principles of the present invention have been illustrated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details lshown and described above,'but that, in fact, widely dilferen't means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clutch, a driving part, a driving clutch disc, and -flat arcuate links disposed generally in the plane of said'disc and each connected at one end to said dis'c and at the other end to said driving part, said links extending from their points of connection with the disc in the direction in which power is applied by the driving part to the disc and said links being adapted to yield slightly, by virtue of their arcuate configuration, under the inuence of impressed driving force tending to 'straighten the arcuate links but being sufficiently rigid, by virtue of being at, so as to transmit appreciable amounts of power in the ,2. Clutch mechanism adapted to connect driving'and' driven parts, comprising a driving clutch disc having integral lingers extending circumferentiallyzof the disc from the point of connection between the fingers and the disc, means rigidly connecting thefree ends of said fingers vto said driving part, said clutch disc being adapted to be engaged with said driving clutch disc .and rigidly carried by said driven part, there being a plurality of apertures in the portions of said lingers which are integrally connected with said disc, and a plurality of pins carried by said driving part and extending into and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said openings, thereby providing for a limited amount of rotation of the clutch disc relative to the driving part.

3. Clutch mechanism adapted to connect driving and driven parts together, comprising a driving clutch disc having a plurality of integral laterally exible fingers having their free ends vextending generally circumferentially of the clutch and formed `with a projection thereon extending generally radially inwardly, means fastening the free ends of said fingers to said driving part, and a driven clutch member adapted to be Vengaged with said clutch disc and rigidly carried by said driven part, there being a notch in the clutch disc to receive said projection, whereby the relative rotation between the clutch disc and the driving part to which it is connected through said resilient fingers is limited by the engagement of at least one of ysaid projections in the notch associated therewith.

4. A clutch adapted to connect driving and driven parts, comprising a clutch plate having a plurality of arms extending generally circumferentially from their points of connection with the plate and adapted to have their free ends 'fixed in spaced relation to one of said parts, said arms being integral, respectively, with the portions of the clutch plate to which they are connected, and a companion clutch member engageable with said clutch plate and connected to rotate and move angularly with the other of said driving and driven parts, said integral arms being arcuate so as to possesssufficient extensible elasticity to provide for various changes in distance between said points of connection and said relatively fixed points so as to accommodate tilting of said plate relative to said one part about a transverse radial axis.

5. Clutch mechanism adapted to connect driv- A ing and driven parts, comprising the combination of pilot bearing means connecting' said parts for relative rotation and constraining any misalignment to take place angularly about said bearing means as a center, a clutch plate disposed in a plane passing through the center of said bearing means and provided with a plurality of arcuate arms connected with the adjacent portions of the plate and extending generally circumferentially, companion clutchplate means engageable with said clutch plate and vmovable angularly about said center with one of said driving and driven parts,*and means securing the free ends of said arms to the other of said parts in xed spaced relation, the arcuate formation of said arms imparting suflicient extensible elasticity thereto to accommodate rocking movement of said clutch plate about a transverse radial axis.

6. A clutch adapted to connect driving and driven parts, comprising a driving clutch disc having a plurality of arms integral, respectively, with the adjacent portionsof the disc and extending generally oircumferentially, the outer ends of said arms being adapted to beattached to said driving vpart in fixed spaced relation, a pair 'of driven clutch plates adapted to engage opposite sides ofsaid driving clutch disc and xed to move axially and angularly with said driven part, said integral arms being arcuate substantially from their points of connection with the clutchvdisc to said xed points of attachment so as to provide an amount of resiliency both circumferentially and transversely of the clutch disc to permit the latter to move axially toward and away from said driving part and to move angularly with said driven part and accommodate angular misalignment between the driving and driven parts.

7. In a clutch, a clutch plate having a plurality of arms extending generally circumferentially in the same direction peripherally of the plate, each having its outer end free and connected at its other end to the plate, each arm being arcuate between its ends to impart extensible resiliency thereto to provide for tilting the plate about an axis in the plane thereof while the ends of the arms are xed in spaced relation.

8. A disc clutch adapted to connect driving and driven parts, comprising a plate member connectedto one of said parts and held against axial displacement with respect thereto, a second plate member shiftable axially relative to said one part, and a clutch disc member having spring lingers serving to connect the disc member with the other of said driving and driven parts, s uch spring iingers being so biased and connected to said other of said parts as to exert a force acting to move the disc member axially away from said irst plate member when thev clutch i's disengaged.

9. A disc clutch adapted to connect driving and driven parts, comprising a plate member connected to one of said parts and held against axial displacement with respect thereto, a second plate member shiftable axially relative to said one part, and a clutch disc member having circumferentially extending spring arms serving to resiliently connect the clutch disc member to the other of said driving and driven parts, said fingers being normally deflected away from the general plane of the disc member and connected to said other l cumferentially directed attaching iingers, said fingers being generally arcuate so as to have a certain amount of longitudinal extensibility and having outer end portions which are formed so as to lie radially outwardly of the clutch disc and normally ina plane spaced from the general plane of said disc.

11. A new article of manufacture comprising a clutch disc having a plurality of generally circumferentially directed attaching fingers, each joined integrally at one end to the disc by a portion which is curved so as to distribute the stresses arising from the iiexure oi the fingers relative to the disc.

12. A clutch adapted to connect driving and driven parts, comprising a clutch disc, a plurality of arms, each rigidly connected at one end to said disc by a curved section and extending generally circumferentially therefrom, the free ends of said arms 'being xed in spaced relation to one of said parts, and a companion clutch member engageable with said clutch disc and connected to rotate and to move angularly with the other of said driving and driven parts, said arms being formed to have sufficient extensible elasticity to provide for various changes in distance bctween said curved sections and said relatively iixed points so as to accommodate tilting of said disc relative to said one part about a transverse radial axis, the curved section serving to distribute stresses arising between the disc and said arms due to exure and extension of the latter in operation.

CLARENCE M. EASON. 0 

